Echuca shines at solar uptake

Data from Australia's renewable energy regulator show parts of northern and central Victoria have the highest uptake of solar power in the state.

Echuca tops the Victorian list, with 13.3 per cent or one in every eight homes using rooftop solar panels.

The Bendigo district suburbs of Axe Creek, Emu Creek and Myrtle Creek rank number three in Victoria, with 13.2 per cent of houses connected.

However, the Clean Energy Council's Tim Sonnreich says Victoria is still well behind other states, with Echuca ranked only 121st nationally.

"Its really got to do with how local communities are organised, so the communities with the largest uptake, places like Dubbo [in] New South Wales, the top national area for solar, have really supportive councils and community groups who really get out and help spread the word on the benefits of solar," he said.

"Echuca is Victoria's number one but it's 121st on the national list, so it's great that it's leading the way for Victoria but if it wants to get into the top tier of Australian postcodes for solar, it's got a lot of work to do."